British actor Sir Ian McKellen has led tributes to his longtime friend and co-star, Sir Patrick Stewart, describing him as one of the most respected and beloved actors of his generation following his death at the age of 86.
Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday after what his family described as a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. His death was announced on Thursday.
McKellen, who starred alongside Stewart in the X-Men film franchise, said the late actor was a man people could rely on, admire and love.
“He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and, in my case, love,” McKellen said in his tribute.
He described Stewart as a proud Yorkshireman whose background shaped his character, honesty and approach to life.
McKellen recalled meeting Stewart when they were young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company and later advising him to think carefully before accepting the leading role in Star Trek, fearing that Hollywood could take him away from his theatre career.
However, Stewart accepted the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, a decision McKellen said audiences around the world were grateful for.
William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, also paid tribute, praising Stewart for bringing intelligence, grace and humanity to his performances.
“Captain Picard stood for the best of us and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work,” Shatner said.
Stewart became internationally recognised for portraying Captain Picard in more than 170 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation between 1987 and 1994. He reprised the role in four feature films and later returned to the character in the television series Star Trek: Picard in 2020.
He also earned widespread acclaim for playing Professor Charles Xavier, popularly known as Professor X, in the X-Men film franchise.
His co-star, Hugh Jackman, described him as a tremendous friend and a great figure of stage and screen.
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today,” Jackman said.
George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, said Stewart inspired a new generation of science-fiction fans with his portrayal of a character who represented hope for humanity.
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Dame Judi Dench said she was shocked and saddened by his death, describing him as a committed performer who would be greatly missed.
The Academy also paid tribute to the actor, describing his voice as unmistakable and praising the tenderness he brought to his characters.
Marvel Studios, which featured Stewart as Professor X, called him “a singular talent, a generous collaborator and a true gentleman”.
Stewart’s final film appearance will be as Professor X in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December.
Career and early life
Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, in 1940, Stewart developed an interest in acting during his school years after being introduced to Shakespeare.
He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and built a distinguished career in classical theatre, performing in productions including King John, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry IV.
The company described him as a colossus of stage and screen and one of the finest classical Shakespearean actors of his generation.
Stewart later expanded his career into film and television, appearing in productions including Dune, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Safe House. He also made guest appearances in television programmes such as Frasier, Futurama, The Simpsons and Family Guy.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his services to drama.
Beyond acting, Stewart became an advocate against domestic violence after witnessing his mother suffer abuse from his father. He became an ambassador for the domestic abuse charity Refuge in 2007.
The charity’s board chair, Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, praised his commitment to the cause, saying he helped break barriers and taboos surrounding domestic abuse.
Stewart was also a lifelong supporter of English football club Huddersfield Town, which described him as a titan of his craft and a proud representative of Yorkshire.
He is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, whom he married in 2013, and his two adult children, Daniel and Sophie, from his first marriage.
Theatres across London’s West End will dim their lights for two minutes on November 3 in his honour.
BBC News
